WILLIAM TOWERSON a.d. 



*557- 



The third day we had sight of one tall ship, of about 

 two hundred tunnes, in the weather of us, and within 

 lesse then two leagues of our ships, and then we saw two 

 more a sterne of her, the one a ship of five hundred or 

 more, and the other a pinnesse : and these were a new 

 fleet at that present arrived out of Portugall. Whereupon Ships of 

 we waved, and made shift to double out of the land, and Portu S a "- 

 then the winde comming to the South-southwest, the 

 Hart going roome with them fell three leagues to the 

 leewards of us. These Portugals gave us the chase from 

 nine of the clocke in the morning, till five at night, 

 but did no good against us. At last, we perceiving the 

 Admirall to be farre a sterne of his company, because 

 his maine topmast was spent, determined to cast about 

 with them againe, because we were sure to weather them, 

 and the winde being as it was, it was our best course : 

 but the Hart was so farre to the leeward, that we could 

 not doe it, except we would lose her company, so that 

 we tooke in some of our sailes, and went roome with 

 him : which when he perceived, he looffed to, and was 

 able to lie as neere as he did before. At night, when we 

 came to him, he would not speake to us : then we asked 

 of his company why he went so roome ; and they made 

 excuse that they were able to beare no saile by, for feare 

 of bearing their foretopmast over boord : but this was 

 a simple excuse. 



The fourth day, being put from our watring place 

 we began to seethe our meat in salt water, and to rebate 

 our allowance of drinke, to make it indure the longer : 

 and so concluded to set our course thence, for our 

 owne countrey. 



The 12 of March I found my selfe thwart of Cape 

 das palmas. 



The 1 6 day we fell with the land, which we judged 

 to be the Cape Mensurado, about which place is very Cape 

 much high land. Mensurado. 



The 1 8 day we lost sight of the Hart, and I thinke 

 the willfull Master ran in with the shore of purpose 



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